Despite the crowds, this hike is a wonderful short venture to two beautiful lakes. This day, I convinced my couch potato friends to join me - they huffed and puffed up the trail, but once they got to the lakes they forgot about their struggles. The weather was clear and crisp, the lakes were very blue. Perfect day and a perfect hike for potatoes.

The Alpine Lakes - Hiked the Talapus-Olallie Lake Trail to the Pratt lake Trail and around the Mt. Defience Trail to the summit of Pratt Mt. The recent snow has all melted off and the trails were snow free to the summit. Took the wrong turn and went around the west side of Olallie Lake. Ended up having to bush wack through the wet bushes up hill on the east side of the lake to regain the Pratt Lake Trail. The trail was not as muddy as i'd been led to believe, but a lot of exposed roots, slippery when wet. Worst mud and roots between Talapus Lake and Pratt Lake Trail. Thanks to to cold nights the bugs were all gone! Fall colors were muted and the bluebeeries most gone. All in all a pretty nice day with ahigh overcast and cool wind. Probably the last snow free weekend this season.

The trails are in remarkably good condition considering the late snow melt this year. All of the windfalls reported earlier in the year have been removed except for the huge cedar hulk blocking the Talapus Lake trail between Olallie Creek and the junction with the Pratt Lake Trail. This one has been around a while and probably will stay. There doesn't appear to be any safe way to remove it. There are the usual mud pits on the Talapus Lake Trail between Olallie Creek and the Pratt Lake Trail junction and on the Pratt Lake Trail east of Olallie Lake. The way to Blazer lake is a chore. Woody brush is very thick. Then the descent into Blazer is very steep, made even more slippery with loose duff. Then there is a mixed scramble down a talus slope to the lake. We circumnavigated the lake with much boulder-hopping and bushwhacking. Blazer Lake is peaceful but you can get the same ambience with less effort by staying up at Rainbow Lake. There is a bee nest somewhere along the northwest shore of Olallie Lake. Huckleberries are coming out, but please leave some for the bears. The summer wildflower show is about over. There are four designated sites at Olallie Lake - please use these sites to minimize impact. Blazer Lake has one dry site and three along the shore of the lake that are quite damp. Observe campfire prohibitions. Know your wilderness regulations before leaving the trailhead. If you must (and are permitted to) have a fire, put it dead out when you're done. Stir water in to completely extinguish the coals. The coals should be cold to the touch.